That was a short episode. I did not even finished my daily walk!! Still, even after all you said, I still love being a trainer. I went through college, earned a psychology degree, became a lawyer, spent some time in culinary school, and yet, nothing has been as rewarding as being a trainer. Yes, I don't make as much money as I can be making working as a lawyer, but the passion was not there. I was thankful for being a trainer every single day that we survived this stupid pandemic. If it wasnt for those clients I would not have survided that very depressing and isolating period.
You haven't scaled your business. Trainers can easily earn more than lawyers. Easy. Vince DelMonte, Bedros, Sara Solomon, Anthony Perez (A-Train), etc.
@@rockon8174 You selected a few trainers that make more than lawyers, that's selection bias. Most lawyers make more on average than most trainers. Just look at the barrier of entry, it'd take a 3 day ceritification to be a trainer and it'd take oh around 6 years of University to become a lawyer.
A trainee's advice to trainers 1. Be on time 2. Leave your phone in the locker 3. Make my hour about me 4. Train my mind, not just my body 5. Express gratitude, I am giving you my hard earned money
This is such a good topic. I'm a new trainer, just got a job at the gym up the road. I am a long time listener, I got certified in April and the biggest obstacle I have had is confidence with clients. You guys really have helped me, that's why I jumped in and got the job. I try to talk to a new person every shift and it's going great. Thank you guys, truly.
As a former/ on the side trainer I totally understand. The first year was fun but it can drag. I still love it and do fitness on the side. Make sure you live it and want to learn expan your skill set. And the energy is so true. Good content as always. Hope to get to your level someday soon.
I got into training after losing 120lbs and changing my life. Decided I wanted to help others get to feel how I feel now. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do. From my experience it is more about a mental transformation than it is a physical one. To this day I deal with mental barriers. But like I tell the few clients I have, it’s not only about weight loss, but finding what makes you happy in the mirror and in your mind! I am very grateful for all your videos and agree that there are too many coaches that get in for just the money and not the gratification of seeing someone concur small goals weekly or monthly or even yearly. Thanks again to all of you.
I loved fitness and my transformation and it changed my life as a high schooler. I wanted to be guide you that same change for other people so I became a trainer. I realized my love for helping others in that journey and would train 14-16 hours a day. I wanted to take it to the next level and now I’m 1 year from finishing Physical Therapy school.
I’m so glad I realized this within the first week of wanting to become a personal trainer. I have since decided to wait and evaluate whether I really want this and all that comes with it before I move forward for all the points you mention in this episode. Just because I’m passionate, does not mean the people I train are or ever will be. I’m still undecided.
Gentlemen… just, thank you. I’m so incredibly indebted to you. I’m 51, began “true fitness” based on your methodology roughly 3 years ago and would always refer to you as my authority. You did in ways that I simply cannot explain. My personal progress brought myself down from 28% bmi to 12 but suddenly and unexpectedly, I suffered a stroke last summer (cardiologist says it seems to be a result of the vax but who knows 😐). Anyway, I only tell you this because once I recovered, I picked right back up with your methods and fitness theory and now I’m right back to being prolific, healthy, and super-fit again. So, just thank you and know you’ve given me the passion needed to make a true lifestyle change and I couldn’t be more appreciative.
It took a while for me to fully build my confidence as a trainer. Being stuck in between passion and wanting more money fucked me up. I accepted that I had to hustle and while life burns me out a lot I’m happy that I’m a trainer
I will be 63 in a few months and ready for the next stage in my life. I get up every morning at 2:30-3a.m. to tend to my handicapped wife and get in my 1 to 1.5 hour workout before starting my work day. Not only do I enjoy working out and the mechanics of working out, eating right, stretching, breathing and the whole body / mind performance , but enjoy being a mentor to others. I am working towards /preparing to make health and fitness my next career. Hopefully you guys still have that package giveaway, would be a great addition to my path forward.
What’s interesting is everything is sales… you wanna help as a doctor, you’re selling treatment to help a hospital make money, so you can make money. You wanna help as a lawyer, you’re selling consulting and litigation to help a firm, so you can make money.
Became a trainer after teaching group ex for 8 years because folks always asked to train with me and I knew I'd need to know the right stuff. I've enjoyed working with my senior clients and it's the hardest I've ever worked but the most rewarding. I couldn't imagine doing anything else.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
1 year in as a full time personal trainer and absolutely agree with every point. It can be stressful when there are periods of no money and trying to get clients etc. But I never have a day where I feel like I’m working or that I don’t want to come in, I love training people and wouldn’t do anything else for the rest of my life
One huge key not mentioned here is having older/ retired clients. They can work out during the hours hardest to fill and make your scheldule not as crazy
Great episode! Teachers have to be "on" all the time. Helping groups of 25 kids of all different personalities over and over with minutes to yourself, if your lucky. 😄
The being switched on thing is so true. Especially when the client is lacking motivation for that session. During those sessions it feels like they are draining your energy.
Currently I am going to school to become a physical therapist assistant. Human physiology is fascinating as well as the effects of food on the human body. Originally i was studying to becoming a nutritionist, then realized that I wouldn't enjoy sitting at a desk in a hospital. I am happiest when I am active and interactive with others. I have come from the lowest point in my life to where I am now. It is my purpose to serve others in helping them rise from the bottom.
I just became a trainer in 2019, but I have been working out for almost a decade before. I definitely understand what you mean by your clients are not fitness fanatics, but I’ve had the privilege and luck to have some of my first clients really get into it. I have one woman who had a disordered eating past and we’ve been able to get her to focus on strength and feeling good inside her body, while making appropriate diet and lifestyle changes that aren’t restrictive or extreme, which are resulting in gradual visual changes. What’s really cool is that she came in the other day showing me a video of Julius Maddox benching. Apparently, she’s been following a lot of powerlifters online and is getting interested in that. She says that’s Night and day from how she used to think, but that she is in love with the feeling of getting strong, and told me lifting “feels like I’m reclaiming my body”. It’s shit like this that makes it worth it to me.
I so need to listen to this, because I’m honestly in a struggle of trying to see if I want to remain a fitness trainer or a paramedic but I do love working out and helping people but been indecisive lately
The most important part of becoming a trainer more so than any diet or physical training regimen is the helping your clients tackle the mental challenge that all of them face. They will face these challenges whether they are the obese 40 something year old man who hasn’t worked out since he was on the high school football team or if they are a bodybuilding pro prepping for their next show. If you can’t help them with tools to conquer some of these than the top notch conditioning plan and precise diet doesn’t mean much.
This explains why the better more experienced trainers won't train anyone who is interested. There are always young kids at local gyms that will train you in a minute, but it's really hard to find a good trainer willing to take on new people.
I always thought I'd be a naturally good trainer but after watching this I'm forced to rethink my life goals lol. I'll stick to just training myself and hopefully my wife soon🙏🏻
Driver training is exactly the same as the boys speak about personal training.. I am seriously burnt out, I completely hate it but I don't know what else to do at my age.
I've been coaching group kid classes for a while now and it's both awesome and awful at the same time. I used to coach adult classes, too, but we closed them after covid. We'll probably reopen them in the near future, though. We focus on athletic training. But what a lot of people don't seem to realize is that a single session each week isn't a magic pill. To change your health it's important to change your lifestyle and that's too much for many people.
FYI I’ve never trained in a big box gym. I’ve got a phenomenal home gym, I did it for very inexpensive just to help people with what they could afford.I got clients just by people wanting to workout one on one and not in a gym
Wow alot of which was said here really scared me away, I knew PT was not for me. I studied the course because I have been a stay at home mom and wanted something to do before going back to the market place. I really thought getting paid for training people will at least push me to continue.😢
I became a trainer years ago, fresh out of college, exercise science degree, thinking I was gonna change the world. I hated it....it sucked....I sucked. I was a much better group exercise instructor. I found out quickly that my love for fitness didn't mean I needed to be training others one on one. Group ex instructors have to be "on" all the time too, but it's much easier to fake when there are 30 people in the room and the music is thumping!
I live in an area where good personal trainers are hard to find. Do you have online trainers/nutrition specialists that you recommend? I'm in a slump. I do HIIT 5 days a week. Rarely have I missed a day over the past 4 years. My body has changed a lot, but this past year I've been struggling to keep the fat off. Just turned 40 this year and I'm worried that age might be my issue. I need help! I'm pounding through your podcasts, trying to figure out what my next move needs to be. Hopefully, I can find it here. Keep the kick ass content coming!
This was a good episode…i really became a personal trainer because i wanted to help people and the passion will always be greater than the pay…NCI is the key tho😅
Don’t forget social workers and probation officers. We deal with a lot and are not getting the pay. Dealing with people in their worst times of their lives most of the time.
This conversation reminds me of Teaching. A Teacher has to be on 100% of the time and deal with different personalities. i had the Heart for it at first, but It lead to burnout because I couldn't be a Chameleon.
I quit PT after 11 years. Best move i can make. I was truly passionate about PT and helping people. But in the long run as you get older, it really comes to be a "younger" career industry. What will you do when you turn 60 and your body just breaks down? Yes, you can continue to maintain your body blah blah blah - fine. Let's talk about job security. PT can be a get rich job, but you also get inconsistent income.
There are senior trainers who are also very strong if your body breaks down its because you didn't take care of it . Job security is there you have to build a good reputation can't be lazy
There's a 60 yr old female trainer at my gym who makes over 100k a year. You can def make this a career , hell I'd even argue that some people would prefer an older trainer due to word of mouth and years of experience just like how people would prefer martial arts instructors who are older.
I'm trying to build a personal training/coaching business to try and specifically reach the perspective clients that are to self conscious to even start going to the gym. Basically I would come to them and train them in the security of wherever they want. What equipment would you suggest? I would put on my card: "personal, personal training"
Personal Training is a Sales Job 🤣🤣.. yes once you done selling than you may pursue your passion to train them.. you need to be good at selling 1st hand .. (me, 16 years in the PT industry) 😎 i still remember 16 years ago when i walked into this Big Fitness centre for a PT interview, the hiring Manager came sat down with me and after meet and greet he took his pen and gave it to me.. ( ok buddy go you have 1minute to sell this pen to me) i panicked and started telling whatever crap to sell the pen to him hahaha in the end 1min is up and i failed at it.. 🤣 and he said the reason i asked you to sell this pen is because you need to sell PT packages in order to have clients baseline and make more over time so i can make good money
I sometimes want to become a trainer. But when I see that most people are doing stuff like curls, extensions, raises, and a dozen of variations of each, and comfy machines, no matter whether their goal is to gain muscle mass or to lose weight, it pisses me off and I give up my desire. I don't do these stuff and can't convince myself to train these to others.
Question - What are trainers allowed to do from a nutritional stand point legally? Not sure the difference between what trainers/. nutritional coaches , and actual nutritionists /dieticians are allow to recommend/perscribe.
You guys might be successfully convincing me to never be a trainer. I absolutely love lifting and love consuming lifting content but idk if I can handle the “people” aspect
Why would anyone be a full-time PT? Most clients are cheap and or lazy which results in group sessions. Most PTs won't get famous and or rich clients unless they live in CA, NYC, south Florida or Chicago. Physical therapists and other health professionals aren't easily disposable.
I think it can all depend on the model. I’m in SFL so I guess I’m a bit lucky. But I’ve trained plenty of people who went to physical therapy and they didn’t get anything solved.. Some of them ending up in worse condition.
Just became a personal trainer as a side hustle. Reason behind it was because I do enjoy working out and you are right, clients definitely don't have the same mindset. But I do enjoy helping others so I don't mind it at all. Always learning keeps the passion going especially from watching your videos! Keep inspiring!
Hey there, not sure if you're still around, but I'm wondering because I come from a similar place. I already have a full-time job and it pays more than a PT where I live, and I don't want to quit soon because it has a lot of benefits. I do have a passion for health, fitness, wellbeing and coaching and I'm exploring whether or not PT is a good option for me. Can I ask how is it going for you as a side hustle? Do you feel like it's too much on top of your main income method?
@@mohammadshibli8163 Same here, I'm working full time and thinking about taking the PT course as a part time job, then in a few years go full time as a retirement job. My pension won't be enough to live on. I don't want too wast my money and time either.
@mohammadshibli8163 I had to limit my PT time because it did become stressful trying to balance my full time job which is salary so my work hours were inconsistent and then having to drive nearly an hour to get to the gym where I trained at just burned me out. So as of now I limited to 1-2 days of PT after my regular work shift.
Taking my exam for my PT certification this weekend! I do have a job lined up as a trainer and the first thing I was going to do is get MAPS prime pro! After listening to you guys, I’ve learned a lot about the value of this. Financially it would be difficult to afford as of right now, but I don’t want to do a disservice to my clients by not having it!
My wife and my mom started their gym and fitness journey and asked me to be their trainer. Will say training someone vs working out by yourself are 2 completely different things. Have to remember that you have to explain the different exercises and how to do them, instead of assuming that they automatically know what you're talking about. Also making sure to offer encouragement and "reign them in" if they want to push too heavy of a weight. Its satisfying but hard work. Cant imagine doing this for a living though. Props to full-time trainers.
In my experience, formerly obese people make the best, most successful trainer. There's a certain psychological disconnect between those who grew up athletic, versus those who developed it later in life. That's why I want to train people. I want to help them gain confidence and happiness like I did, not necessarily from the weight loss and muscle gain, but for the fact that you overcame a major obstacle. I want to teach people to love their process, not "the" process. That looks different for everyone.
I’ve been listening to you guys since 2019 and love your show! I’m a 57 year old female trainer and I’ve been training clients (full time) for over 25 years. I love fitness but I went to college to become a psychologist and after graduating, I was approached by a manager at a gym who offered to mentor me if I’d get certified as a personal trainer. It’s the best decision I made because it combined my desire to help people press through their trials in life by using fitness as a tool to get healthy physically and emotionally. Finding your podcast was a godsend!! Thank you for helping maintain my sanity in this field! :-)
Reading this is insane because I'm 31, in recovery, looking at going to school for drug and alcohol counseling. But I LOVE. Fitness. So I wanna do something along those lines as well!!
I enjoyed your comment! I completed my personal trainer certificate while pursuing my psychology degree. Like you, I see fitness as a way to empower people, fostering confidence and overall well-being. I'm passionate about making a positive impact, finding satisfaction in seeing others thrive. I agree with this podcast; being a PT is more than just fitness knowledge and interest-it's about a genuine passion and intent to support individuals in reaching their goals and becoming their best selves.
I just recently wanted to become a personal trainer because I see how much strength training and exercise have impacted my life this podcast has helped me put a lot of things into perspective
I became a trainer bc as a dancer I needed an alternate career path on the side that wasn’t sitting as a desk all day-turns out i’m extremely passionate about the people part of it. connecting with people in this environment has really changed my perspective about humans for the better (and y’all have given the info to support me along the way more than any certifications have!!)
Me personally i just started my personal trainer business .. online and in person at the gym or park , i even provide the weights . I never had a personal trainer well i had one for literally 3 weeks... i fired him cause i felt like he wasnt pushing me hard enough , he treated me like i had never worked out before so i decided to learn from youtube.. and in a year i pretty much learned the basics and i can get my feet wet now. Ive been training clients for a less than 6 months and i have 3 clients ,i adjust my fee to their budget.. im in spain so the average salary here is 1300 euros a month. Anyway after watching the show i still want to keep going hard with my personal trainer business so i guess thats a plus... i will fight through the bad times and appreciate the good ones. Saludos from Spain !
LOVE you guys. I’ve been listening to y’all for the past 4 years and I’ve been wanting to become a trainer for awhile now and I just signed up for my CPT today. I’m so excited! I can’t wait to take what I’ve learned from you guys all these years and share it with future clients.
Mind Pump is hands down the #1 source on the internet for health & fitness,especially for aspiring trainers like myself! I've learned more from you guys than I have from my Certification programs. Thanks guys! 💪🇺🇸
Shoutout to all the aspiring, struggling and even the successful Personal Trainers out there. Remember that there are lessons to learn from your failures. Make a plan, trust the process and be consistent :)
You need to be a good teacher to be a personal trainer. That's always hard. It doesn't matter how much you love fitness, if you can't communicate clearly--meaning, actually get through to your client--then this isn't the job for you. Frankly, I think 'passion' is overhyped. Do you actually like people? Can you empathize? Are you perceptive...and observant? Can you think on your feet? These are all qualities of an outstanding teacher. A little creativity wouldn't hurt, either.
Been working out since 15 y/o and obviously have gotten injured throughout the journey (herniated disc, muscle tears, strains, sprains, etc.) because I didn’t have resources like this podcast :/. 6 years later I’m pulling almost 500 on sumo @185 with little to no pain thanks to hard work and amazing teachers like the guys on mind pump so I wanted to say a massive thank you for teaching the younger generation to be healthy,safe and strong. I found this podcast a few months ago but I’ve quickly become a fan bc of the depth of knowledge and experience between all 3 of you so please keep up the great content, we all have a lot more to learn 🙏🏼
The advice I would give to all potential trainers is to get sales training. Having passion for helping people and being skilled at program design is great. But it's ultimately a sales job. I've seen fellow trainers wash out after a year because they didn't know how to close clients. Most people will have objections as to why they can't train. So you have to know how to overcome them and read people on an individual level. I'm very fortunate that my dad was a master class salesman. I mean he made $250K per year in the 80's (equals 1 mill plus today) selling space in the Yellow Pages to businesses. So he taught me a lot. **The first gym I ever worked at, I was selling 10-12K in training per month out the gate. So that combined with my skills as a trainer? I was unbeatable. I also had the fortune of being the first guy to really push heavy lifting and actual conditioning for women there. A lot of the female trainers had their clients on machines and were too social. Even my fitness director was uneasy initially seeing female clients of mine out deadlift male members. LOL
As a student wanting to become a Physical Therapist (different type of PT) this channel has help me understand things in real world application. I’m currently working to be a CPT (certified personal trainer) and listen y’all explain how to create plans and what to look for has help me create pre-plans when I do get certified.
Train people for free at first, you will find out if its worth it. Its about adapting too. If a client is tired, just go threw the motions and teach them the exercise so they can do it with more intensity on their own. Can u guys do a topic about balance? Thanks guys for the great content.
I’ve been a trainer for just over a year and the reason I’m still a trainer is because of you guys. I’ve asked a few questions and you guys have answered them all and it’s helped me so much to succeed because I went downhill for a while. Dealing with the different personalities is probably the most exhausting part of the day and everyone thinks it’s a simple job. Thanks to you guys I work from 5am - 8pm 6 days a week and I absolutely love my job.
Watching your guys content taught me way more than the PT certification did, such a valuable resource. Training people is definitely not an easy thing but the reward can also be pretty unique!
If the drive is to make a marked improvement in people's lives I think it's a good move and it fuels your passion. But like anything it requires hardwork, dedication and people aren't going to have the same drive as you.
As that notification goes off, I drop everything (except the weights that is 😂) to catch the next episode. Of course we all "think" we could be trainers, but for some of us, sharing our story is our calling, not the training.
I’m 17 and just got hired as a personal trainer, I’ve been watching you guys since I was 15 and have learned so much. It’d be awesome if I could get the prime bundle since i’m broke(😂) but I’ll for sure purchase even if. Thanks guys!
I have trained many people, but the people that stand out are at the extremes. By that I mean, the ones that either throw themselves totally into the process or the the ones that don’t even put any effort in what so ever. Unfortunately people that don’t put any effort in, and don’t think that they are an active part. These people are the ones that don’t see the results they want to see. And these clients are the ones that still give me a sense of failure; where I need to kick myself up the backside and find a way. 😎
Being a trainer is a lot harder than people make it out to be you are so on top of teaching to client Proper workout techniques an intensity but you also have to be a motivational person
Strongly considering a career pivot and becoming a personal trainer. I truly appreciate the info/advice and it’ll all be taken into consideration. Despite your “warning” I’m still heavily leaning toward the pivot and the prime bundle would go a long way in helping people move toward a healthier life!
I'm getting close to taking the NASM exam for CPT and preparing for the next step. This is great info to have for realistic expectations. Thank you! I'm 55 switching careers from Real Estate Appraisal. My whole life I have been involved in fitness & health in one form or another and enjoy helping people. Appraiser has been a career for the last 15 years, but most of the work is at home office writing reports and very little is interaction with clients as the industry regs forced a separation between client & appraiser. I'm hopeful, that after many years, I can work up to becoming a CPT that receives referrals. It will be a hill to climb. Thanks again!
This is a great time for me to watch a video like this, as I have just recently got started as a Personal Trainer. Love listening to your podcast, it has been one of my greatest inspirations to become a PT. Thanks for everything you guys have taught me!!
Before watching this..I feel like this episode knows whatup. I get approached at the gym about personal training. I love training myself but I also know how hard I worked to get there. I don't know if I can help others see the same. It's soo hard to want something for someone else. Knowing how to get there and not being able to help them. I definitely know I wouldn't be cut out for it. I have considered it several times.
I think I’m beginning to agree with you. I’ll be 61 years old in October. About seven years ago I got my NSCAPT certification. I ended up not even using it. I’ve been working out in training since I was 15 years old. I have a black belt in taekwondo and really always enjoyed teaching those classes. I am currently studying for a NASMPT certification. And at this very moment, I am wondering why I am even trying that again when I feel as you do, That even though I’m so passionate about fitness and working out and my personal goals, I really don’t think the individual personal trainer idea is the way that I’ll make a difference.
Number 3 is the single biggest issue. No other sales position is obtained completely in disguise and coming with prerequisites in science. What a good trainer does and what a salesperson does is nearly opposite ends of the spectrum. Finding it in a single person isn't just hard, it's excessively rare, bordering on not even possible. The best trainers on paper likely lack leads and the wealthiest trainers probably don't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to exercise science. Sick, sick industry I am over the moon to be exiting.
Being a good personal trainer is hard. Just like being a good anything is hard. Relatively speaking, personal training isnt rocket surgery. You dont know anything about computer science and for the most part, no, you cant "hate" computer science and do something CS related for 8 hours a day. Terrible thing to pick to compare to. Realistically being a personal trainer is one of the easiest professions in our society
I understand your points about building habits and changing relationships with fitness related things. Makes a lot of sense. But what if the client does not understand that, and all they want is results? If we spend months to a year just building habits and not getting results, yes that’s the best way for sure, but the client may not see it that way and quit because they’re not getting results. I don’t want my clients to quit. Any more advice you can give?
That was a short episode. I did not even finished my daily walk!! Still, even after all you said, I still love being a trainer. I went through college, earned a psychology degree, became a lawyer, spent some time in culinary school, and yet, nothing has been as rewarding as being a trainer. Yes, I don't make as much money as I can be making working as a lawyer, but the passion was not there. I was thankful for being a trainer every single day that we survived this stupid pandemic. If it wasnt for those clients I would not have survided that very depressing and isolating period.
You haven't scaled your business. Trainers can easily earn more than lawyers. Easy. Vince DelMonte, Bedros, Sara Solomon, Anthony Perez (A-Train), etc.
@@rockon8174 You selected a few trainers that make more than lawyers, that's selection bias. Most lawyers make more on average than most trainers. Just look at the barrier of entry, it'd take a 3 day ceritification to be a trainer and it'd take oh around 6 years of University to become a lawyer.
A trainee's advice to trainers
1. Be on time
2. Leave your phone in the locker
3. Make my hour about me
4. Train my mind, not just my body
5. Express gratitude, I am giving you my hard earned money
This is such a good topic. I'm a new trainer, just got a job at the gym up the road. I am a long time listener, I got certified in April and the biggest obstacle I have had is confidence with clients. You guys really have helped me, that's why I jumped in and got the job. I try to talk to a new person every shift and it's going great. Thank you guys, truly.
As a former/ on the side trainer I totally understand. The first year was fun but it can drag. I still love it and do fitness on the side. Make sure you live it and want to learn expan your skill set. And the energy is so true. Good content as always. Hope to get to your level someday soon.
I got into training after losing 120lbs and changing my life. Decided I wanted to help others get to feel how I feel now. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do. From my experience it is more about a mental transformation than it is a physical one. To this day I deal with mental barriers. But like I tell the few clients I have, it’s not only about weight loss, but finding what makes you happy in the mirror and in your mind! I am very grateful for all your videos and agree that there are too many coaches that get in for just the money and not the gratification of seeing someone concur small goals weekly or monthly or even yearly. Thanks again to all of you.
I loved fitness and my transformation and it changed my life as a high schooler. I wanted to be guide you that same change for other people so I became a trainer. I realized my love for helping others in that journey and would train 14-16 hours a day. I wanted to take it to the next level and now I’m 1 year from finishing Physical Therapy school.
I’m so glad I realized this within the first week of wanting to become a personal trainer. I have since decided to wait and evaluate whether I really want this and all that comes with it before I move forward for all the points you mention in this episode. Just because I’m passionate, does not mean the people I train are or ever will be. I’m still undecided.
Gentlemen… just, thank you. I’m so incredibly indebted to you. I’m 51, began “true fitness” based on your methodology roughly 3 years ago and would always refer to you as my authority. You did in ways that I simply cannot explain. My personal progress brought myself down from 28% bmi to 12 but suddenly and unexpectedly, I suffered a stroke last summer (cardiologist says it seems to be a result of the vax but who knows 😐). Anyway, I only tell you this because once I recovered, I picked right back up with your methods and fitness theory and now I’m right back to being prolific, healthy, and super-fit again. So, just thank you and know you’ve given me the passion needed to make a true lifestyle change and I couldn’t be more appreciative.
It took a while for me to fully build my confidence as a trainer. Being stuck in between passion and wanting more money fucked me up. I accepted that I had to hustle and while life burns me out a lot I’m happy that I’m a trainer
I will be 63 in a few months and ready for the next stage in my life. I get up every morning at 2:30-3a.m. to tend to my handicapped wife and get in my 1 to 1.5 hour workout before starting my work day. Not only do I enjoy working out and the mechanics of working out, eating right, stretching, breathing and the whole body / mind performance , but enjoy being a mentor to others. I am working towards /preparing to make health and fitness my next career. Hopefully you guys still have that package giveaway, would be a great addition to my path forward.
What’s interesting is everything is sales… you wanna help as a doctor, you’re selling treatment to help a hospital make money, so you can make money. You wanna help as a lawyer, you’re selling consulting and litigation to help a firm, so you can make money.
Became a trainer after teaching group ex for 8 years because folks always asked to train with me and I knew I'd need to know the right stuff. I've enjoyed working with my senior clients and it's the hardest I've ever worked but the most rewarding. I couldn't imagine doing anything else.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
1 year in as a full time personal trainer and absolutely agree with every point. It can be stressful when there are periods of no money and trying to get clients etc. But I never have a day where I feel like I’m working or that I don’t want to come in, I love training people and wouldn’t do anything else for the rest of my life
One huge key not mentioned here is having older/ retired clients. They can work out during the hours hardest to fill and make your scheldule not as crazy
Great episode! Teachers have to be "on" all the time. Helping groups of 25 kids of all different personalities over and over with minutes to yourself, if your lucky. 😄
The being switched on thing is so true. Especially when the client is lacking motivation for that session. During those sessions it feels like they are draining your energy.
Currently I am going to school to become a physical therapist assistant. Human physiology is fascinating as well as the effects of food on the human body. Originally i was studying to becoming a nutritionist, then realized that I wouldn't enjoy sitting at a desk in a hospital. I am happiest when I am active and interactive with others. I have come from the lowest point in my life to where I am now. It is my purpose to serve others in helping them rise from the bottom.
I just became a trainer in 2019, but I have been working out for almost a decade before. I definitely understand what you mean by your clients are not fitness fanatics, but I’ve had the privilege and luck to have some of my first clients really get into it. I have one woman who had a disordered eating past and we’ve been able to get her to focus on strength and feeling good inside her body, while making appropriate diet and lifestyle changes that aren’t restrictive or extreme, which are resulting in gradual visual changes. What’s really cool is that she came in the other day showing me a video of Julius Maddox benching. Apparently, she’s been following a lot of powerlifters online and is getting interested in that. She says that’s Night and day from how she used to think, but that she is in love with the feeling of getting strong, and told me lifting “feels like I’m reclaiming my body”. It’s shit like this that makes it worth it to me.
I so need to listen to this, because I’m honestly in a struggle of trying to see if I want to remain a fitness trainer or a paramedic but I do love working out and helping people but been indecisive lately
Thank you for posting this. I’m going back and forth between being a trainer or not. You guys made great points. Keep it up!
Great points! I think I will just enjoy being a fitness fanatic and leave the training to the professionals😊
Another great topic. I like how every video has been timestamped. Makes it easier to follow along.
The most important part of becoming a trainer more so than any diet or physical training regimen is the helping your clients tackle the mental challenge that all of them face. They will face these challenges whether they are the obese 40 something year old man who hasn’t worked out since he was on the high school football team or if they are a bodybuilding pro prepping for their next show.
If you can’t help them with tools to conquer some of these than the top notch conditioning plan and precise diet doesn’t mean much.
This explains why the better more experienced trainers won't train anyone who is interested. There are always young kids at local gyms that will train you in a minute, but it's really hard to find a good trainer willing to take on new people.
I always thought I'd be a naturally good trainer but after watching this I'm forced to rethink my life goals lol. I'll stick to just training myself and hopefully my wife soon🙏🏻
Driver training is exactly the same as the boys speak about personal training..
I am seriously burnt out, I completely hate it but I don't know what else to do at my age.
I've been coaching group kid classes for a while now and it's both awesome and awful at the same time.
I used to coach adult classes, too, but we closed them after covid. We'll probably reopen them in the near future, though.
We focus on athletic training. But what a lot of people don't seem to realize is that a single session each week isn't a magic pill. To change your health it's important to change your lifestyle and that's too much for many people.
FYI I’ve never trained in a big box gym. I’ve got a phenomenal home gym, I did it for very inexpensive just to help people with what they could afford.I got clients just by people wanting to workout one on one and not in a gym
Awesome podcast 💪, going to work listing you guys most days of the week.
Wow alot of which was said here really scared me away, I knew PT was not for me. I studied the course because I have been a stay at home mom and wanted something to do before going back to the market place. I really thought getting paid for training people will at least push me to continue.😢
I became a trainer years ago, fresh out of college, exercise science degree, thinking I was gonna change the world. I hated it....it sucked....I sucked. I was a much better group exercise instructor. I found out quickly that my love for fitness didn't mean I needed to be training others one on one. Group ex instructors have to be "on" all the time too, but it's much easier to fake when there are 30 people in the room and the music is thumping!
the exact episode I needed! as always, thank you
I always tell most clients upfront that they don’t have what it takes to lose weight that way/fast
I live in an area where good personal trainers are hard to find. Do you have online trainers/nutrition specialists that you recommend? I'm in a slump. I do HIIT 5 days a week. Rarely have I missed a day over the past 4 years. My body has changed a lot, but this past year I've been struggling to keep the fat off. Just turned 40 this year and I'm worried that age might be my issue. I need help! I'm pounding through your podcasts, trying to figure out what my next move needs to be. Hopefully, I can find it here. Keep the kick ass content coming!
I deal with this everyday, for like 10 years being a manager of a gun store, including being a firearms trainer. I can so relate.
Thank you for sharing!
Great content as usual. I would like to see a video on your opinion and analysis of Mike Mentzers training philosophy. Much appreciated.
This was a good episode…i really became a personal trainer because i wanted to help people and the passion will always be greater than the pay…NCI is the key tho😅
Don’t forget social workers and probation officers. We deal with a lot and are not getting the pay. Dealing with people in their worst times of their lives most of the time.
You totally become part of their life.
This conversation reminds me of Teaching. A Teacher has to be on 100% of the time and deal with different personalities. i had the Heart for it at first, but It lead to burnout because I couldn't be a Chameleon.
Fantastic show again guys
Damn. This made want to become a trainer even more 🤣🤣. Im taking my certification exam next month
I quit PT after 11 years. Best move i can make. I was truly passionate about PT and helping people.
But in the long run as you get older, it really comes to be a "younger" career industry. What will you do when you turn 60 and your body just breaks down? Yes, you can continue to maintain your body blah blah blah - fine. Let's talk about job security. PT can be a get rich job, but you also get inconsistent income.
There are senior trainers who are also very strong if your body breaks down its because you didn't take care of it . Job security is there you have to build a good reputation can't be lazy
There's a 60 yr old female trainer at my gym who makes over 100k a year. You can def make this a career , hell I'd even argue that some people would prefer an older trainer due to word of mouth and years of experience just like how people would prefer martial arts instructors who are older.
Very good food for thought guys! 👌🏽
Why aren't there over a million subs?
I'm trying to build a personal training/coaching business to try and specifically reach the perspective clients that are to self conscious to even start going to the gym. Basically I would come to them and train them in the security of wherever they want. What equipment would you suggest? I would put on my card: "personal, personal training"
Personal Training is a Sales Job 🤣🤣.. yes once you done selling than you may pursue your passion to train them.. you need to be good at selling 1st hand .. (me, 16 years in the PT industry) 😎 i still remember 16 years ago when i walked into this Big Fitness centre for a PT interview, the hiring Manager came sat down with me and after meet and greet he took his pen and gave it to me.. ( ok buddy go you have 1minute to sell this pen to me) i panicked and started telling whatever crap to sell the pen to him hahaha in the end 1min is up and i failed at it.. 🤣 and he said the reason i asked you to sell this pen is because you need to sell PT packages in order to have clients baseline and make more over time so i can make good money
I sometimes want to become a trainer. But when I see that most people are doing stuff like curls, extensions, raises, and a dozen of variations of each, and comfy machines, no matter whether their goal is to gain muscle mass or to lose weight, it pisses me off and I give up my desire. I don't do these stuff and can't convince myself to train these to others.
Question - What are trainers allowed to do from a nutritional stand point legally? Not sure the difference between what trainers/. nutritional coaches , and actual nutritionists /dieticians are allow to recommend/perscribe.
gotta get a cert for nutrition if you wanna help meal prep
There's goes my shot at it. 😂
You guys might be successfully convincing me to never be a trainer. I absolutely love lifting and love consuming lifting content but idk if I can handle the “people” aspect
Sal is the GOAT , let me win
Exactly why I never became trainer, ppl can stubborn
Give me the free the stuff!!
Why would anyone be a full-time PT? Most clients are cheap and or lazy which results in group sessions. Most PTs won't get famous and or rich clients unless they live in CA, NYC, south Florida or Chicago. Physical therapists and other health professionals aren't easily disposable.
I think it can all depend on the model. I’m in SFL so I guess I’m a bit lucky. But I’ve trained plenty of people who went to physical therapy and they didn’t get anything solved.. Some of them ending up in worse condition.
damn i’m a computer engineer sitting at my desk playing games
FIRST
First
A personal trainers just a glorified spotter 😂
For you yes
I became a trainer because everything else I've tried sucked haha But training people comes naturally and doesn't stress me so much. So good try Sal 😁
You would do well in the Army.
Same here
Did you finish a College to be a trainer or some sort of courses?
@@nedasm2330 if the implication is that doing well, what's it matter?
excacly bro 💪🏻
Just became a personal trainer as a side hustle. Reason behind it was because I do enjoy working out and you are right, clients definitely don't have the same mindset. But I do enjoy helping others so I don't mind it at all. Always learning keeps the passion going especially from watching your videos! Keep inspiring!
Hey there, not sure if you're still around, but I'm wondering because I come from a similar place. I already have a full-time job and it pays more than a PT where I live, and I don't want to quit soon because it has a lot of benefits. I do have a passion for health, fitness, wellbeing and coaching and I'm exploring whether or not PT is a good option for me. Can I ask how is it going for you as a side hustle? Do you feel like it's too much on top of your main income method?
@@mohammadshibli8163
Same here, I'm working full time and thinking about taking the PT course as a part time job, then in a few years go full time as a retirement job. My pension won't be enough to live on. I don't want too wast my money and time either.
Sounds like a good thing to do as a side hustle!
@mohammadshibli8163 I had to limit my PT time because it did become stressful trying to balance my full time job which is salary so my work hours were inconsistent and then having to drive nearly an hour to get to the gym where I trained at just burned me out. So as of now I limited to 1-2 days of PT after my regular work shift.
Taking my exam for my PT certification this weekend! I do have a job lined up as a trainer and the first thing I was going to do is get MAPS prime pro! After listening to you guys, I’ve learned a lot about the value of this. Financially it would be difficult to afford as of right now, but I don’t want to do a disservice to my clients by not having it!
Who did you cert through?
My wife and my mom started their gym and fitness journey and asked me to be their trainer. Will say training someone vs working out by yourself are 2 completely different things. Have to remember that you have to explain the different exercises and how to do them, instead of assuming that they automatically know what you're talking about. Also making sure to offer encouragement and "reign them in" if they want to push too heavy of a weight. Its satisfying but hard work. Cant imagine doing this for a living though. Props to full-time trainers.
In my experience, formerly obese people make the best, most successful trainer. There's a certain psychological disconnect between those who grew up athletic, versus those who developed it later in life. That's why I want to train people. I want to help them gain confidence and happiness like I did, not necessarily from the weight loss and muscle gain, but for the fact that you overcame a major obstacle. I want to teach people to love their process, not "the" process. That looks different for everyone.
I’ve been listening to you guys since 2019 and love your show! I’m a 57 year old female trainer and I’ve been training clients (full time) for over 25 years. I love fitness but I went to college to become a psychologist and after graduating, I was approached by a manager at a gym who offered to mentor me if I’d get certified as a personal trainer. It’s the best decision I made because it combined my desire to help people press through their trials in life by using fitness as a tool to get healthy physically and emotionally. Finding your podcast was a godsend!! Thank you for helping maintain my sanity in this field! :-)
@Jennifer Would love to talk w you. Very similar path! 🙏
Reading this is insane because I'm 31, in recovery, looking at going to school for drug and alcohol counseling. But I LOVE. Fitness. So I wanna do something along those lines as well!!
😂😂😂❤❤🎉pls send loll 😊
😮😢-1
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ר-חפף
I enjoyed your comment! I completed my personal trainer certificate while pursuing my psychology degree. Like you, I see fitness as a way to empower people, fostering confidence and overall well-being. I'm passionate about making a positive impact, finding satisfaction in seeing others thrive. I agree with this podcast; being a PT is more than just fitness knowledge and interest-it's about a genuine passion and intent to support individuals in reaching their goals and becoming their best selves.
I just recently wanted to become a personal trainer because I see how much strength training and exercise have impacted my life this podcast has helped me put a lot of things into perspective
I became a trainer bc as a dancer I needed an alternate career path on the side that wasn’t sitting as a desk all day-turns out i’m extremely passionate about the people part of it. connecting with people in this environment has really changed my perspective about humans for the better (and y’all have given the info to support me along the way more than any certifications have!!)
Me personally i just started my personal trainer business .. online and in person at the gym or park , i even provide the weights .
I never had a personal trainer well i had one for literally 3 weeks... i fired him cause i felt like he wasnt pushing me hard enough , he treated me like i had never worked out before so i decided to learn from youtube.. and in a year i pretty much learned the basics and i can get my feet wet now.
Ive been training clients for a less than 6 months and i have 3 clients ,i adjust my fee to their budget.. im in spain so the average salary here is 1300 euros a month.
Anyway after watching the show i still want to keep going hard with my personal trainer business so i guess thats a plus... i will fight through the bad times and appreciate the good ones.
Saludos from Spain !
LOVE you guys. I’ve been listening to y’all for the past 4 years and I’ve been wanting to become a trainer for awhile now and I just signed up for my CPT today. I’m so excited! I can’t wait to take what I’ve learned from you guys all these years and share it with future clients.
Mind Pump is hands down the #1 source on the internet for health & fitness,especially for aspiring trainers like myself! I've learned more from you guys than I have from my Certification programs. Thanks guys! 💪🇺🇸
Shoutout to all the aspiring, struggling and even the successful Personal Trainers out there. Remember that there are lessons to learn from your failures. Make a plan, trust the process and be consistent :)
You need to be a good teacher to be a personal trainer. That's always hard. It doesn't matter how much you love fitness, if you can't communicate clearly--meaning, actually get through to your client--then this isn't the job for you. Frankly, I think 'passion' is overhyped. Do you actually like people? Can you empathize? Are you perceptive...and observant? Can you think on your feet? These are all qualities of an outstanding teacher. A little creativity wouldn't hurt, either.
Been working out since 15 y/o and obviously have gotten injured throughout the journey (herniated disc, muscle tears, strains, sprains, etc.) because I didn’t have resources like this podcast :/.
6 years later I’m pulling almost 500 on sumo @185 with little to no pain thanks to hard work and amazing teachers like the guys on mind pump so I wanted to say a massive thank you for teaching the younger generation to be healthy,safe and strong.
I found this podcast a few months ago but I’ve quickly become a fan bc of the depth of knowledge and experience between all 3 of you so please keep up the great content, we all have a lot more to learn 🙏🏼
The advice I would give to all potential trainers is to get sales training. Having passion for helping people and being skilled at program design is great. But it's ultimately a sales job.
I've seen fellow trainers wash out after a year because they didn't know how to close clients. Most people will have objections as to why they can't train. So you have to know how to overcome them and read people on an individual level.
I'm very fortunate that my dad was a master class salesman. I mean he made $250K per year in the 80's (equals 1 mill plus today) selling space in the Yellow Pages to businesses. So he taught me a lot.
**The first gym I ever worked at, I was selling 10-12K in training per month out the gate. So that combined with my skills as a trainer? I was unbeatable. I also had the fortune of being the first guy to really push heavy lifting and actual conditioning for women there. A lot of the female trainers had their clients on machines and were too social. Even my fitness director was uneasy initially seeing female clients of mine out deadlift male members. LOL
As a student wanting to become a Physical Therapist (different type of PT) this channel has help me understand things in real world application. I’m currently working to be a CPT (certified personal trainer) and listen y’all explain how to create plans and what to look for has help me create pre-plans when I do get certified.
Awesome! Keep going!
Don’t send me the MAPS Prime Pro bundle. You can’t pick me to win the giveaway!
(Is that a challenge..? 😉)
Demand for Physical trainers for Senior aged people is supposedly going to increase by 40% in the next 10 years.
I have offered to train my friends for free because of my passion. I get so frustrated when their drive is not like mine.
Train people for free at first, you will find out if its worth it. Its about adapting too. If a client is tired, just go threw the motions and teach them the exercise so they can do it with more intensity on their own. Can u guys do a topic about balance? Thanks guys for the great content.
I’ve been a trainer for just over a year and the reason I’m still a trainer is because of you guys. I’ve asked a few questions and you guys have answered them all and it’s helped me so much to succeed because I went downhill for a while.
Dealing with the different personalities is probably the most exhausting part of the day and everyone thinks it’s a simple job.
Thanks to you guys I work from 5am - 8pm 6 days a week and I absolutely love my job.
5am to 8pm wow. Do you get an opportunity to nap at some point in the afternoon at least?
Watching your guys content taught me way more than the PT certification did, such a valuable resource. Training people is definitely not an easy thing but the reward can also be pretty unique!
Ima be like Mark Wahlberg from Pain and Gain
If the drive is to make a marked improvement in people's lives I think it's a good move and it fuels your passion. But like anything it requires hardwork, dedication and people aren't going to have the same drive as you.
As that notification goes off, I drop everything (except the weights that is 😂) to catch the next episode. Of course we all "think" we could be trainers, but for some of us, sharing our story is our calling, not the training.
I’m 17 and just got hired as a personal trainer, I’ve been watching you guys since I was 15 and have learned so much. It’d be awesome if I could get the prime bundle since i’m broke(😂) but I’ll for sure purchase even if. Thanks guys!
Congrats on getting certified.
@@nygiantschamps9340 thanks!
I have trained many people, but the people that stand out are at the extremes. By that I mean, the ones that either throw themselves totally into the process or the the ones that don’t even put any effort in what so ever.
Unfortunately people that don’t put any effort in, and don’t think that they are an active part. These people are the ones that don’t see the results they want to see. And these clients are the ones that still give me a sense of failure; where I need to kick myself up the backside and find a way. 😎
Sum lil wholes lol boom 💥
Being a trainer is a lot harder than people make it out to be you are so on top of teaching to client Proper workout techniques an intensity but you also have to be a motivational person
YOU GUYS HAVE HELPED ME SO MUCH IN MY FITNESS JOURNEY 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 THANK YOU
Strongly considering a career pivot and becoming a personal trainer. I truly appreciate the info/advice and it’ll all be taken into consideration. Despite your “warning” I’m still heavily leaning toward the pivot and the prime bundle would go a long way in helping people move toward a healthier life!
I'm getting close to taking the NASM exam for CPT and preparing for the next step. This is great info to have for realistic expectations. Thank you! I'm 55 switching careers from Real Estate Appraisal. My whole life I have been involved in fitness & health in one form or another and enjoy helping people. Appraiser has been a career for the last 15 years, but most of the work is at home office writing reports and very little is interaction with clients as the industry regs forced a separation between client & appraiser. I'm hopeful, that after many years, I can work up to becoming a CPT that receives referrals. It will be a hill to climb. Thanks again!
man this is a great show i love it before iwas training like crazy but not really loosing weight now listening to these guys i have lost 20 lbs
This is a great time for me to watch a video like this, as I have just recently got started as a Personal Trainer. Love listening to your podcast, it has been one of my greatest inspirations to become a PT. Thanks for everything you guys have taught me!!
Before watching this..I feel like this episode knows whatup. I get approached at the gym about personal training. I love training myself but I also know how hard I worked to get there. I don't know if I can help others see the same. It's soo hard to want something for someone else. Knowing how to get there and not being able to help them. I definitely know I wouldn't be cut out for it. I have considered it several times.
I think I’m beginning to agree with you. I’ll be 61 years old in October. About seven years ago I got my NSCAPT certification. I ended up not even using it. I’ve been working out in training since I was 15 years old. I have a black belt in taekwondo and really always enjoyed teaching those classes. I am currently studying for a NASMPT certification. And at this very moment, I am wondering why I am even trying that again when I feel as you do, That even though I’m so passionate about fitness and working out and my personal goals, I really don’t think the individual personal trainer idea is the way that I’ll make a difference.
Number 3 is the single biggest issue. No other sales position is obtained completely in disguise and coming with prerequisites in science. What a good trainer does and what a salesperson does is nearly opposite ends of the spectrum. Finding it in a single person isn't just hard, it's excessively rare, bordering on not even possible. The best trainers on paper likely lack leads and the wealthiest trainers probably don't know their ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to exercise science. Sick, sick industry I am over the moon to be exiting.
Being a good personal trainer is hard. Just like being a good anything is hard. Relatively speaking, personal training isnt rocket surgery. You dont know anything about computer science and for the most part, no, you cant "hate" computer science and do something CS related for 8 hours a day. Terrible thing to pick to compare to. Realistically being a personal trainer is one of the easiest professions in our society
I understand your points about building habits and changing relationships with fitness related things. Makes a lot of sense. But what if the client does not understand that, and all they want is results? If we spend months to a year just building habits and not getting results, yes that’s the best way for sure, but the client may not see it that way and quit because they’re not getting results. I don’t want my clients to quit. Any more advice you can give?
Dude I'm going to be the absolute greatest trainer ever thanks for the heads up
Honestly if you listen well, this one actually tells ya what to do and not to do as a CPT. Well done guys.
Just off the top of my head. You can never eat anything you really want and you can’t have a ounce of fat.